Speculation has been mounting that the legislation, soon to be
introduced to Parliament, would be watered down following a report
that found that single parents could lose almost $100 a week under
the changes. But Mr Andrews said any claims of a backdown were
"nonsense".

"There won't be any change in the major policy parameters that
cabinet agreed to and were announced in the budget," he told The
Age yesterday.

He said the Government was working with interest groups but the
major direction of the package would remain the same.

Single parents will be expected to work for a minimum 15 hours a
week or search for a job.

A report by the National Centre for Social and Economic
Modelling released last week found single parents would be $91 a
week worse off under the changes if they worked for 15 hours a week
at the minimum wage.